In the United States, there has developed an enthusiastic movement of support for the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. Besides the large forces he appeals to, especially among young adults, he is overwhelmingly supported by the left: liberals, social democrats, and Stalinists. I appreciate the movement-like aspect of his popular support, yet I personally will not vote for him.

Ella Baker, who was born in North Carolina in 1905, was politicized and radicalized by the poverty of the Great Depression. She participated in self-help programs throughout the 30s and developed an understanding and respect for the process by which people take control over their own lives while also protesting injustices.

[This is an excerpt from an essay written by Chris Crass on organizing lessons to be learned from the life long revolutionary organizing work of Ella Baker.]

Boston, Mass.—Hundreds of thousands around the world will join forces tomorrow, January 26, 2008, for a historical celebration of social movements and social justice as they take action locally on the Global Day of Action called forth during the World Social Forum (http://wsf2008.net/). People all over the world will hold talks, demonstrations, concerts, vigils, and many other creative ways of resistance to clamor “another world is possible.”

In the Greater Boston area, the Global Day of Action launched last weekend with a Winter Soldier event organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War and their supporters, followed today by an immigration rally organized by the Boston May Day Coalition, and a People’s Music Winter Gathering tonight that seeks “to promote progressive ideas and transform ourselves and our communities through music to bring about a better world.” Other activities include an event to challenge the Free Trade Agreement in Colombia, two demonstrations in support of Palestinians, and a talk about human rights in Haiti.

The South American nation of Bolivia has filled the headlines of the global press with their fight against water privatization, struggle for nationalization of gas, non-compliance with free trade policies, and the election of South America’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales. These struggles are rooted in the long history of indigenous resistance to colonialism and imperialism in Bolivia. In an interview conducted during her recent stay in Pittsburgh, subaltern theorist, Aymara sociologist, and historian Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui discussed Bolivian Anarchism, the health benefits of the Coca plant, and the Cocaleros' (Coca Growers') fight for sovereignty.

Boston, Mass-- The Massachusetts Asian & Pacific Islanders for Health (MAP) organization presented awards to Niem Nay-Kret, Project Director, Southeast Asian Bilingual Advocates, Inc. and Veseth Poy, Senior Case Manager, Lynn Community Health Center for their efforts to address HIV/AIDS in the Massachusetts Cambodian community. Over 90 community members came out to attend MAP’s Rooted in Acceptance reception and awards ceremony that was held on May 17th at the Boston Center for the Arts. The awards are named for Siong-Huat Chua, a Malaysian-born, Boston-based gay activist, writer, and pioneer in bringing visibility to HIV/AIDS among Asians. Mr. Chua died of AIDS in 1994.

Anna Marie’s father was an Italian immigrant with anarchistic ideas but who in the 1920s didn’t identify himself openly as an anarchist. He raised his daughter in the rough and demanding environment of a working class family where hierarchical powers were not to be trusted and human relationships were critical for the survival of shrinking societies. Later in the 1940s and 50s, Anna Marie felt naturally attracted to the beat poets and dharma bums, but it was only when she read Emma Goldman that she connected with the “deep desires of anarchist ideals.”

On Saturday, March 4th, people from Boston and other cities gathered in Copley Square for an annual conference called "La Rivolta!" Workshops on indigenous women's resistance, international trafficking of sex workers, and anarchist parenting tied together the feminist and anarchist perspectives.

For the story, listen to the radio piece (posted as a .mp3 audio file).

For over 100 years, the Catholic Charities of Boston has provided loving homes for children by finding adoptive parents for them. Because of disputes about gay parents, they have decided to stop providing adoption services at all.

The social welfare organization, Catholic Charities of Boston, has decided to end its adoption program on the grounds that if they comply with Massachusetts law allowing for gay parents to adopt children that they will violate Church teachings.